Wednesday, 13 March 2019

MDC Manicaland provincial chairman David Chimhini has come
out guns blazing, accusing bussed supporters for causing disruptions at the
party’s weekend thank-you rally in Mutare, saying the actions dented the
reputation of party leader Nelson Chamisa.

During the rally in Sakubva, Chimhini and party
secretary-general Douglas Mwonzora had to endure booing by a group of party
supporters, who were said to be unhappy with reports that the pair was drumming
up support to challenge Chamisa at the forthcoming congress.

It was Chamisa who saved Mwonzora from further
embarrassment. However, Chimhini did not mince his words, claiming the
supporters were a hired crowd from outside the province.

“This didn’t tarnish my image, what it did was to tarnish
the image of the president and the party because how are we viewed by the
international community when we have a whole president standing up to tell
people to listen to their elected secretary-general?” Chimhini said.

“There are a lot of undercurrents which have become
unfortunate, but we are not deterred. People of Manicaland are very cultured
and don’t behave in that manner. When you have people coming from outside, then
you know that there was a bigger agenda.”

Before the rally, Chimhini said they held a provincial
council meeting and there was no evidence of disgruntlement in the province.

“All of a sudden, you get to the rally and there are
pockets, two of them sitting on the front, doing those things. I also hear that
there were some people distributing money, some $2 notes, given to the few who
went on to behave disorderly,” Chimhini said.

He said Manicaland garnered the biggest number of rural
votes for Chamisa and there was no way things could just change because of the
congress.

After the rally, Chimhini said he received solidarity
messages and sympathies from people who felt the disturbances were
choreographed.

Some senior officials from Harare accused Chamisa’s backers
for the skirmishes while others accused Zengeza East legislator, Goodrich
Chimbaira for bussing the hecklers from Chitungwiza.

“The reason why Mwonzora and Chimhini remained defiant when
heckled is that they knew the crowd was bussed. They even had placards, but
they failed to lift them.

“Before the rally, there was a provincial assembly meeting
at Beit Hall, which was graced by standing committee members and it went on
well without incidences.

When standing committee members, including Mwonzora, were
introduced, there was no booing.

“When Mwonzora was about to speak, the trigger was then
pulled and people started booing. This was to give a false narrative that
Chamisa rescued Mwonzora.

This must be investigated and anyone found guilty must be
disciplined,” a senior official in Harare said.

However, Chimbaira distanced himself from the issue, saying
he was not at the rally.

“It’s all lies,” he said while dismissing rumours that he
was campaigning for the Harare chairmanship post.

“I don’t have a position that I am earmarking (at
congress), but if I am nominated I will consider it.” Newsday